These delicious paneer puffs or air fryer puff pastry are done easily and quickly in the air fryer. They make for a tasty evening snack and also as a yummy appetizer for parties.
Air fryer puff pastry dishes are a revelation. One can modify the filling as per taste and preference, even make desserts and they taste so good. I use storebought puff pastry and it works so well.
You will also love: air fryer Oreos, air fryer egg puffs, air fryer mushroom puffs and air fryer pigs in a blanket.
Ingredients
Puff Pastry Sheets: I have used store bought puff pastry sheet squares. You can use a roll too and cut it into squares.
Paneer - 1 cup cubed paneer forms the base of our filling
Spices: I have used ½ tsp. cumin, ¼ tsp. turmeric, ½ tsp. red chilli powder and ½ tsp. garam masala to flavor the filling.
Onion, Ginger and Garlic - A small onion finely sliced and 1.5 tsp. ginger garlic paste is used here.
Tomato Paste: I have used 2 tbsp. tomato paste here.
Peanut Oil: I used 2 tsp. peanut oil to saute the filling. Any vegetable oil works. Also some more oil is used to brush the pasty. You can use milk or butter too.
Salt: About ½ tsp. is used.
Instructions
Chop paneer into small cubes and keep aside. First prepare the filling. Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds. Let it sputter. Add in sliced onion and saute till it turns golden brown.
Add in the ginger garlic paste and stir fry for a couple of minutes.
Then add in the tomato paste and a couple of tsp. of water. Cook out till the mixture looks mushy.
Add in turmeric, red chilli powder, garam masala and salt along with paneer cubes. Mix well and cook for a couple of minutes more. That's it. Take it off the heat and cool down well.
Your filling should taste spicier as it will mellow out with the puff pastry taste.
Puff pastry sheets are kept frozen. I leave them in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for 45 minutes to thaw them out. You can only handle them once thawed. But always keep them chilled.
If using a sheet, cut into squares. I had used pre-cut squares. After your filling has completely cooled down, start assembling your paneer puffs.Place one heaped teaspoon of the filling in the center of the square.
Then fold diagonally to form a triangle. Press down on the edges and using a fork make the lines. Repeat for each puff.
Air fryer Instructions
Preheat air fryer at 360F or 180C for 5 minutes. Place paneer puffs carefully in the basket. Then brush them with oil, milk or melted butter. This helps in browning. Also sprinkle some sesame seeds on each.
I could fit 4 at one go. Leave enough space between them as they expand quite a bit. Air fry at 360F or 180C for 10-12 minutes till browned and puffed well.
Your paneer puffs are ready to serve. Serve hot with chutney or ketchup.
Oven Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F or 175C. Place prepared paneer puffs on a baking sheet lining the baking tray.
Leave enough space between them. Brush with oil, butter or milk and sprinkle sesame seeds on top. Bake for 20-25 minutes till golden and puffed. You can flip the puffs midway during baking.
Your paneer puffs are ready to serve.
Expert Tips
1. It is important to keep the puff pastry cold at all times. If it gets warm it will be sticky and it will not puff up well.
2. Even after making the puffs, you can place them in the freezer to chill for a bit before air frying.
3. Do not put too much filling inside the pastry or it will start spilling out.
4. Brushing the puffs with butter or oil gives them a nice brown color on air frying or baking.
5. Storage: You can store leftover puffs in an airtight container in the fridge for upto 2 days. Then reheat and consume. If will not taste like freshly baked though. If you wish to freeze the assembled puffs, you can do so and then air fry from frozen when needed.
6. To make this recipe dairy free, use tofu in the filling and use vegan butter or oil for brushing the puffs.
📖 Recipe Card
Paneer Puffs in Air fryer | Oven
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 squares Puff Pastry Sheet
Filling
- 1 cup paneer or tofu cubes
- 1 onion sliced
- 1.5 tsp. ginger garlic paste
- 2 tbsp. tomato paste or puree
- ¼ tsp. turmeric
- ½ tsp. red chilli powder
- ½ tsp. garam masala
- ½ tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. cumin
- 2 tsp. peanut oil or any vegetable oil
- 1 tsp. butter or oil to brush the pastry
- ½ tsp. sesame seeds for garnish
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Instructions
- Chop paneer into small cubes and keep aside. First prepare the filling. Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds. Let it sputter. Add in sliced onion and saute till it turns golden brown.
- Add in the ginger garlic paste and stir fry for a couple of minutes. Then add in the tomato paste and a couple of tsp. of water. Cook out till the mixture looks mushy.
- Add in turmeric, red chilli powder, garam masala and salt along with paneer cubes. Mix well and cook for a couple of minutes more. That's it. Take it off the heat and cool down well.
- Your filling should taste spicier as it will mellow out with the puff pastry taste.
- Puff pastry sheets are kept frozen. I leave them in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for 45 minutes to thaw them out. You can only handle them once thawed. But always keep them chilled.
- If using a sheet, cut into squares. I had used precut squares. After your filling has completely cooled down, start assembling your paneer puffs.
- Place one heaped teaspoon of the filling in the center of the square and then fold diagonally to form a triangle. Press down on the edges and using a fork, press down the edges further. Repeat for each puff.
Air fryer Instructions
- Preheat air fryer at 360F or 180C for 5 minutes. Place paneer puffs carefully in the basket. Then brush them with oil, milk or melted butter. This helps in browning.
- I could fit 4 at one go. Leave enough space between them as they expand quite a bit.
- Air fry at 360F or 180C for 10-12 minutes till browned and puffed well. Your paneer puffs are ready to serve. Serve hot with chutney or ketchup.
Oven Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F or 175C. Place prepared paneer puffs on a baking sheet lining the baking tray.
- Leave enough space between them. Brush with oil, butter or milk and sprinkle sesame seeds on top. Bake for 20-25 minutes till golden and puffed. You can flip the puffs midway during baking.
- Your paneer puffs are ready to serve.
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